Shipping-box



(No Model.) A. H. MORRISON 82; W. A. PRESTON.

SHIPPING BOX.

No. 323,714. Patented Aug. 4,1885.

INVENTOHS UNITE STATES 4 PATENT OFFICE.

ALEXANDER H. MORRISON AND WVALLAOE A. PRESTON, OF ST. JOSEPH,

MICHIGAN.

SHlPPlNG -BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,714, dated August4, 1885.

Application filed April 15, i885. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ALEXANDER H. MOR- RISON and WALLAoE A. PRESTON,citizens of the United States, residing at St. Joseph, in the county ofBerrien and State of ,Michigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Shipping-Boxes; and we do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to theletters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

Thisinvention has relation to improvements in shipping boxes or cratesto be used for the transportation of berries; and it consists in theconstruction, novel arrangement, and adaptation of devices, as will behereinafter more fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in theclaims appended.

An important (lesideratum in devices of this character is to lessen theexpense of manufacture and to simplify the means of ventilation so as tokeep berries cool and fresh. To do this at a minimum expense is the mainobject of the present invention.

Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in vertical section, of the crate. Fig.2 is a horizontal section on line as m. Fig. 3 is a perspective view ofthe berry-box.

In carrying out our invention we provide a box or crate, A, which ispreferably of rectangular elongated form. This box is constructedentirely of paper with the exception of the end walls, a a, and themiddle transverse partition-wall, b, the sides, top, and bot tom beingcomposed of stout paper-such as pasteboard-and secured to the respectiveedges of the end and middle walls by means of screws or other suitablefastening devices. The bottom is secured to the said walls by cleats B,which are of a sufficient thickness to keep the said bottom from directcontact with any means of support, consequently forming a passagebeneath the said bottom for the free circulation of air to the interiorof the box through the ventilating-apertures. The cover may be providedin asimilar manner to afford similar advantages for the box in case itshould be placed face downward or another box placed upon it. The sidesand ends, as well as the top and bottom, are provided withventilating-apertures, as shown. This box is divided into twocompartments of such a diameter as to conveniently receive and hold in asnug and compact manner a suitable number of small berry or fruit boxes,as will be presently explained.

, D indicates the berry or fruit boxes that are placed in the outer caseor box, A, and are made entirely of paper. In making these boxes D,.wetake a strip of pasteboard or other suitably-stiff paper and bendorcrease it at the points a b c d. We then bring the free ends to overlapeach other in a vertical position, after which we take a Strip, E,having perforations similar to that of the strip F, 1

and bend it at e and f, the sections 9 and h be ing of less length thanthe width of the strip F. WVe then place this strip E within the wallsof the strip F, which are brought together in rectangular contour, wherethey are secur d together, care being taken to bring the middle sectionof the strip E, which forms the bottom of the box, above the lower edgesof its side walls, to form a chamber or space beneath the same, therebyholding the bottom of the boxes from direct contact with the outer boxor case. The perforations of these boxes D may be arranged in anysuitable position,

but are preferably in quincunx form, so that I the said perforations mayregister with each other and form an uninterrupted air-passage from onebox to the other, irrespective of the manner in which they are placed inthe outer box or case. These boxes D are coated with shellac or othersimilar material on their outer sides. Thus it will be seen that shouldthe berries in one box decay the liquid substance which might draintherefrom would be prevented from soaking through and into the nextadjacent box, and consequently prevent the decomposition of the berriestherein.

We are aware that wood and paper, singly and combined, have been used inthe manu- .facture of boxes; also, that perforated walls have been usedfor ventilation; also, that cleats have been used to raise the box aboveany surface on which it may be placed; and also, that perforated boxeshave been used to carry small fruit; hence our invention is not to beconsidered as covering these elements, broadly. In making the sides,top, and bottom of our box of paper we produce a box of extremecheapness and lightness when the purpose for which it is designed isconsidered. Its advantage over thin wood is apparcut, as it will neitherwarp nor crack. Paper alone would not give sufficient strength; hence weprovide the ends and interior partition of wood of sufficient thickness.The sides are secured to the lateral wooden walls by screws or any otherknown fastening device. and as little or no strain will come on themthis fastening is sufficient; but with the top and. bottom this is notso, the boxes during ship ment being liable to be set wrong side up, asthe weight of the contents must be borne by one or the other. To preventthe paper pulling or tearing away from the said fastenings, we providethe cleats coinciding with each transverse wall and,when secured, firmlyh olding the paper in place. The cleats also serve the function ofelevating the box, which latter in itself is old. By perforating thetop, bottom, sides, ends, and interior division, and providing smallerboxes perforated at the sides and bottom, and there provided with anair-chamber, though the latter smaller box may be old, the entire deviceinsures a more complete ventilation than has heretofore been produced,while the cost of manufacture of the same, while not lessening thestrength necessary for this class of boxes, is greatly reduced and theportability as much increased.

Having described our invention, what we claim is- 1. The improvedshipping-case herein described, of rectangular contour, consisting,essentially, of the sides, top, and bottom of per forated paper, theends and internal division of perforated wood, and cleats on top and bottom coincident with the wooden walls and secured thereto by fasteningdevices which pass through the top and bottom paper walls, substantiallyas and for the purpose specified.

2. A shipping-box designed to carry small fruit, consisting of arectangular outer box with longitudinal perforated paper walls,transverse perforated wooden walls, transverse cleats on top and bottomcoincident with said wooden walls, and fastenings securing the cleats tosaid walls with the paper walls interposed, and internal boxes, eachhaving perforated sides and a bottom under which is formed anair-chamber, the whole arranged to insure a thoroughly Ventilated,cheap, and portable fruit-carrier, substan tially as and for the purposespecified.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

ALEXANDER H. MORRISON. NVALLAOE A. PRESTON. \Vitnesses:

EznKnn. F. RnYNoLDs, J ESSIE M. MoGILvRA Y.

